London 2012: Yohan Blake inspired by friendly rivalry with Usain Bolt

Yohan Blake defeated his great rival Usain Bolt in both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials. Photograph: Urs Flueeler/EPA

Yohan Blake insists his rivalry with his fellow Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt will remain a friendly one regardless of what happens at the London 2012 Olympics.

Blake, 22, is likely to be Bolt's chief rival for the 100m and 200m gold medals at the Games.

Bolt surged to victory in both events at the Beijing Games in 2008 but could take only the 200m world title in Daegu, South Korea, last year as Blake capitalised on his countryman's disqualification to win the 100m. Blake also beat the 25-year-old over both distances at the Jamaican trials earlier this month, clocking a personal best and world's season-leading time of 9.75sec in the 100m.

He also ran a world-best of 19.80 to win the 200. Before the Jamaican trials, Bolt had not lost over the longer distance in four years. Blake defeated him, not only by three hundredths of a second but by coming through and past when Bolt had led with 50 metres to go.

The younger athlete told the BBC: "Win, lose or draw we are friends, even though it is business and he wants to win and I want to win."

Blake trains alongside Bolt under the same coach at the Racers Track Club in Kingston, Jamaica, and he feels the arrangement has been hugely beneficial. He said: "Every time in training I want to win but he's always there. So I say: 'OK, how am I going to win on the big day?'

"That's why some of the time I tend to be at the front so when I get on the track I can say: 'OK, I beat him in training.'"

Blake credits Bolt for assisting in his development. "He will say to me: 'Yohan, look, you're not doing this for the people, you're not doing this for the fans, you're not doing this for your family, you're doing this for yourself.' He can motivate me."